He stopped kissing her.
"What's the matter with you?" Nathan asked suddenly.
Peyton's eyes snapped to him, to reality.
"Huh?"
"You've been acting really…weird lately."
"Oh…well…I don't know. I've been feeling kinda off, sick lately. Ill shake it."
Nathan nodded. But Peyton didn't think he was truly satisfied.
Peyton smiled. "Hey? Don't worry."
Her hand moved to the back of his neck and pulled him into a kiss, silencing him. As they laid on her bed, in a moment of intensity, Peyton's mind drifted to Lucas. Their kisses became more passionate, her hands scratching down his back. As he kissed her neck, whispering her name, Peyton was suddenly filled with guilt. She tried to forget…tried to have him make her forget with his kiss and his touch. It only just made the reality more glaringly obvious…her heart was shifting.
-------
Lucas took a deep drag of his cigarette and closed his eyes. He lowered his left hand, casually holding it between his fingers as he slowly exhaled the dark smoke. With his other hand, he wrote. His fingers moved skillfully, quickly.
The last threads of sleep still hadn't worn off before he'd walked onto the roof of his apt complex and took notes, as detailed as possible, of his dreams.
Luca. Peyton. Luca seemed to be some sort of peasant. While Peyton…Peyton seemed to be part of some noble family. Lucas smiled at that. And this Luca…he seemed to write as well. Sonnets?
Lucas shook his head. He didn't even have normal dreams anymore. It was as if his dreams were these weird…flashes. He didn't even know what to call it. He looked down, suddenly aware of his scribbling. There, all over his notes was words written in an old script.
Ill find you.
Ill find you.
Ill find you.
He dropped his pen suddenly, shocked…scared. He realized his cigarette was down to the but and tossed it in his ash tray--a bowl shaped rock, inside adorned with natural lapis lazuli at it's walls. He grabbed another cigarette, tried to light it and then pulled it out of his mouth, frustrated. He tossed it on the floor and stood.
They needed to talk about this. They needed to talk about this now.
--------
She left Nathan sleeping quietly in her bed.
Peyton threw on a faded blue THS Cheerleader shirt, the collar deliberately torn off. The neckline casually draped over her shoulder as she slipped on a pair of gray workout shorts.
She grabbed her sketch pad and walked outside to her porch.
It came effortlessly, as if her hands were independent from the rest of her body. She drew…
Hands clasped, over a chest--over a heart. Her heart. Peyton stopped and stared…her heart. She cautiously and slowly put the pencil down, closing her eyes.
Maybe she should go to a doctor?
Just then, the rustle of leaves roused her from her thoughts.
Lucas was walking across the lawn towards her, his eyes focused.
How in the hell could she manage to look so beautiful in what looked like pajamas? He frowned…clearly, he'd gone mad.
Peyton noticed how his brow furrowed as he reached the porch steps, as if deep in thought.
"Hey…" She called softly.
Lucas stuffed his hands in his jacket pockets.
"Hey."
The silence in the air was deafening.
Peyton shrugged.
"Can I help you?"
"I think you know you can," he said coolly, sending chills through her body.
She looked down for a moment. Contemplating…
"Well…what do you want to know…?"
Lucas stared at her for a long moment.
"…Does it wake you up at night?" He asked quietly. "Does it grab a hold of you? That when you wake up, you're not sure who you are anymore?"
Peyton looked away, anywhere but his face. She thought about denying it all…
"Yes." She barely whispered.
She looked up, her eyes connecting with his. "Yes."
Lucas nodded and took out a cigarette, lighting it.
"Im thinking of seeing a doctor…"
He trailed off, looking at Peyton.
She felt the heat of his gaze and shrugged.
He shook his head.
"Nothing. You just look…" He stopped.
She smiled, uncomfortable.
"I look what?"
He took a deep drag and looked away.
"Beautiful."
Peyton felt the heat rising inside of her.
She wasn't sure what to say.
She opened her mouth to speak…
"What the fuck are YOU doing here?"
Peyton turned to see Nathan coming outside. He deliberately put his shirt on once he was in view.
She stood.
"Lucas was just leaving…"
Lucas looked from Peyton to Nathan and back again. He gave a half chuckle and walked away.
Peyton watched him, a twinge of regret ebbing at her heels. She closed her eyes.
"What was he doing here?" Nathan demanded.
"I don't know, you scared him away before I could find out…"
Nathan stayed quiet for a moment before turning back to go inside.
"I don't want you around that asshole."
Peyton watched Lucas until he was out of sight.
"Yeah," she breathed. Defeated.
As she began to walk inside, Lucas's voice whispered in her ear.
Ill find you…